Page 15 - Letter to My Father Curriculums_Neat2

Requirement: Teacher will assign the letter to be written during one class period or as a homework
assignment.
Pre-discussion
Some thoughts and questions to be used as a class discussion –

• Think of what you want to accomplish with your letter. Is this a letter of gratitude?
• Who are you writing to?
• Is it one of hurt and/or anger?
• Do you want to thank your father?
• What do you want your reader to know after reading your letter? It is okay if they have a

“laundry list” of topics in their letters, however they must be able to explain how each item on
their list has affected/impacted their life.
Post-discussion
Creating an open line for teacher and peer feedback will probably feel awkward and somewhat invasive
but it is extremely important that this project is not filed neatly away after the student letters are
written. Teachers should initiate conversation about the actual “writing process” and how students feel
about their overall results. Even if students are not willing to share to or open up, just the attempt has
opened the door to a new relationship with your classroom.
Idea: Ask students how they felt writing their letters. Was it hard to write? Were they able to complete
the assignment? How did they feel when it was complete? Would they write another letter? You can
also ask students if they said everything that they wanted to say; did they find the process so difficult
that it was easier to hold back and not share everything that they felt?
Idea: Ask volunteers to share their letter with the class.
Idea: Build a free blog and ask students to participate in an anonymous online conversation
Possible Final Project Idea: Publish anonymous (or signed) letters into a class book to be placed in the
school and/or class library.

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